Types of Bariatric Surgery

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, a procedure used in more than 70 percent of all bariatric surgeries, is considered by most bariatric surgeons in the U.S. to be the “gold standard” in weight loss surgery.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y, the upper stomach is separated from the rest of the stomach, therefore “bypassing” most of the stomach. A limb of small intestine is brought up to the new stomach pouch, allowing it to empty into the intestine. While a normal stomach holds about three pints, the new stomach pouch is initially only the size of an egg, growing to the size of a fist after 6-12 months. The digestive enzymes from the upper small intestine meet with the food content high in the digestive tract, and bowel function is otherwise normal. This is, therefore, a gastric restrictive operation with a small malabsorptive component.

At. St. Luke’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinic, Roux-en-Y is performed laparoscopically the vast majority of the time, so patients are in the hospital for only two days, and are back to work in about ten days.

Advantages of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

• Superior weight loss results: 73 percent excess body weight loss at one year and 76 percent at two years on our program.
• Best operation for co-morbidity reduction: 83 percent cure rate for diabetes, 60-70 percent for hypertension, 80 percent for sleep apnea syndrome.

Disadvantages of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

• Technically difficult to perform, and requires experienced hands for best results.
• Multivitamin and calcium supplement required each day, for life.
• Deficiencies can occur long-term if a multivitamin and calcium supplement are not taken routinely.